Improvement in windmills



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mgl@ f@ @www UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lVlLlllAM Il. 'HEELER, 0F BELOIT, DISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINDMILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,213, dated February 3, 1874; application tiled April 1,1873.

AsE A.

To all whom 'it may concern Beit known that I, WILLIAM H. NVI-IEELER, of Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Windmills; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact descript-ion of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l isa perspective view ofthe apparatus on the upper part of the tower. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tower and part of the apparatus mounted on it.' Fig. 3 is a section al elevation of the upper part of the tower Y and the contained machinery. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the foot-plate in which the tubular axis of the vane is stepped. Fig. 5 is a detached elevation of the `swiveled connection between the operating rope or chain and its extension. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the box tower, and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the device for centering the wheel-support.

'My invention relates to improvements in windmills, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, A- is the plate or head, to one end of which the va-ne B is rigidlyr attached. This plate has projecting down from its under side a hollow axis, C, which passes through the cap of the tower 2, and extends down within the tower to the rabbeted foot-plate C1, in which said axis is stepped so as to revolve freely. D is the windwheel, of ordinary or suitable construction; D1, its'horizontal axis or shaft mounted upon a projection from the plate E, which plate is an eccentric continuation of the vertical axis of the wheel. The lower end El of this vertical axis is hollow, and is stepped concentrically with-in a recess in the upper end of the axis U, so as to swing freely therein. The upper end E2, also hollow, enters a sleeve, F1, contined within a circular socket, F2, formed upon an upward projection, F, of the plate A. The socket F2 is held by the projecting arln F directly above the axis l1, and by means of setscrews fthe sleeve F1 can be centered within the socket F2; I have, therefore, the means for keeping the vertical axis of the wheel in line with the vertical axis of the mill. As the support of the wind-wheel is relieved from the weight of the vane by being' pivoted upon the vane-support, the necessary changes in the position of the wheel in respect to the wind or vane are more easily and directly effected than if the vane were pivoted upon and obliged to move with the support of the wind-wheel. On the inner end of the shaft Dl is a disk, D2, having a wrist-pin connected by a pitman, 1', with the actuating-rod G. This actuating-rod passes through the axis F2, and also into the axis El having an offset to clear the disk D2.

As shown in Fig. 3, the lower end of the rod G forms a ring, G1, embracing loosely a peripheral groove around the hollow head G2 placed concentrically with the axes C El. The object of the swivel-joint between G and G2 is to enable G to rotate with the wheel and vane, and G2 to remain non-rotatory. From the lower end of G2 two rods, G2, proceed downward at equal distances from the center of G2 and on opposite sides thereof. These two rods pass through perforations a' Fig. 4, in the foot-plate Cl, and by it are held from turning, but not from reciprocating up and down. At their lower ends these rods are fastened to the top of the pump-rod G4 at opposite sides, as shown in Fig. l. The adjusting cord or chain f/ extends from a projection of the plate E horizontally to a sheave, k, mounted upon the top of an offset from one edge of the plate A, and thence to and over a sheave, l, mounted on A and projecting over the bores of the axes U El far enough to drop the cord g into the exact center of said axes therefore, said cord passes centrally through the head G2 and centrally between the rods G3. At a point between the head G2 and foot-plate C1 the cord g terminates in an eye, m, on which is swiveled a head, u. (See Fig. 5.) From one side of the head n a rod, g', drops through the hole y, Fig. 4. This rod forms an extension of the cord g, and is the part laid hold of by the attendant on the ground. The rod gf, it will be perceived, is not in the vertical center of the mill as the cord o is; but set off at one side thereof, in order to clear the rod G4. Nevertheless, when the rod g is pulled, its force is passed to the cord g in the same manner as though said rod were located centrally of the mill. As by offsetting the actuating'-Y rod G the wrist upon the disk I)2 is brought directly over and in the same vertical line with the center of the head G2 and pump-rod G4, the power of the windewheel is applied directly to the pump,thus avoiding loss of power and other inconveniences incident to side draft.

By the arrangement of the double connecting-rod G3 and head G2 the cord or chain'g may occupy the Vertical center of the mill to the extent of the perpendicular range of said cord or chain, its lower end being swveled, as shown, with an offset of the operating-rod g', for the purpose of allowing said cord or chain to revolve with the vertical axis C without twisting. It is plain, however, that if made strong enough one of the two offset connecting-rods Gr would answer the same purpose as two, both in respect to the line of draft from the wind-wheel to the pump-rod, andV in allowing` the cord or chain to occupy the vertical center of the mill, as above described. Therefore, I do not confine myself to the use of two offsetrods. Neither do I confine myself to any particular class of windmills in the use of the connecting and operating devices above described, as they are equally applicable to all mills which impart a reciprocating motion to a connecting-rod. In some instances a wire or rod may be substituted wholly or partly in the place of the cord or chain g.

Fig. G represents a section of the tower on which my windmill is mounted. It is in the form of a continuous box from top to bottom. I take ordinary fence boards, H, of equal width, and placing four of these together in the manner shown in Fig. 6, form thus a section of my tower.

One or more sets of iron clamps, I, are fastened in the form of bands around the outside of the tower, and bolted together as shown in Fie'. G. By these bands the tower is very much strengthened. Eyes J are fastened into the bands, to which eyes the upper ends of wire stay-rods K are fastened.l The lower ends of the stay-rods are attached to the heads of bolts L, which pass through plates M securely fastened to posts N,or pass through the posts themselves, set in the ground, one at each side of the tower, and at suitable distances therefrom. By a nut upon the outer end of the' bolts L the slack of the stay-rods can always be taken up and the latter therefore kept always taut. rIhe lower part of the tower may be secured by two parallel braces extending from foot of tower to two opposite posts, as shown, or in any other suitable manner.

1. The combination of the plates A F, axes C El E2, sleeve F1, socket F2, and sct-screwsf, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the actuatingrod G, wheel D, swiveled and hollow head G2, double com'iecting-rod G3, plate C1, and pump-rod G4, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The adjusting cord g, attached to thev frame supporting the wind-wheel and passing through the central line of the axes C El, in combina-tion with the swiveled extension-rod g', attached to the cord g at an offset, and the plate C1, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

W'ILLIAM H. T HEELE R.

fitnessesz Y MELVILLE CHURCH, Gno. E. BROWN. 

